Stairway



F. P. MICELI STAIRWAY March 4, 1969 Sheet Filed Dec. 22, 1967 FIGJ FIG.2

INVENTOR. FIDELIS P. MICELI F. P. MICELI March 4, 1969 STAIRWAY Z ore Sheet Filed Dec. 22, 1967 FIG.5

INVENTOR. Fmsus R MICELI United States Patent 3,430,729 STAIRWAY Fidelis P. Miceli, 442 Brunner Drive, Monroeville, Pa. 15146 Filed Dec. 22, 1967, Ser. No. 692,784 US. Cl. 18293 Int. Cl. E06c 9/00, 7/18; E04g 3/00 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention This invention relates to stairways for homes and buildings and the like and has particular relationship to stairways produced from prefabricated parts. In an important one of its aspects, this invention concerns itself with helical stairways but in certain of its aspects it is also applicable to straight stairways.

A stairway extends between a lower level and a higher level and is supported by lower-level supporting means, for example, a lower floor or wall structure on the ground, and upper-level supporting means, for example, an upper floor or wall structure. There is tread supporting means between which the tread is supported. In accordance with the teachings of the prior art the treads may be supported as cantilevers from a helical columnar element (typically 11, Gebhart 3,207,259) or between a central pipe and rods (typically pipe B, rods C, Royce 215,166). The cantilever support has the disadvantage of lack of stability. Both the cantilever and the pipe support have the disadvantage of complexity in the structure and number of parts. This militates against the use of prefabricated interchangeable parts in construction.

It is an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a stairway, particularly a helical stairway, which is highly stable and can be constructed readily and with a minimum of labor cost from a minimum number of prefabricated replaceable parts.

Summary of the invention In accordance with this invention a stairway is provided which is constructed of nine sets of basic standard interchangeable parts of simple structure. This stairway includes sets of brackets (usually two standard parts), one set anchored to the lower-level supporting means and the other set to the upper-level supporting means. Sets of columns or rods (one standard part) are secured to the corresponding brackets of the bracket sets. These columns are all of a length such that they extend from one level to the other along the whole desired height of the stairway. The treads (one standard part) are supported between the columns on plates (two standard parts) secured to the columns at each end of each tread. The riser height may be set as desired. Where desired a handrail may be provided. This handrail is a rod (one standard part) which is bent into a helix and secured by brackets (two standard parts) to the columns of one set.

Brief description of drawings For a better understanding of this invention, both as to its organization and as to its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmental view in side elevation showing the manner in which a column of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is secured and the manner in which the railing is secured to this column;

FIG. 3A is a fragmental plan view showing the brackets joining the railing to the columns;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental plan view showing a tread of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and its supporting plates;

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of the part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmental view in section taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 2, enlarged, showing how the treadsupporting plates are secured to the columns; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmental view in side elevation, enlarged; showing the manner in which the tread supporting plates are secured to the columns.

Description 07 preferred embodiment The drawings show a helical stairway 11 between ground 13 and a porch. The stair-way 11 includes brackets 15 and 17 supported on the ground and brackets 19 and 21 supported from the railing 23 of the porch. Each of these brackets 15 through 21 is in the form of a circular arc, typically a semicircle. The brackets 15 and 19 are of the same diameter and of substantially larger diameter than the brackets 17 and 21 which are also of the same diameter and the curvatures of all brackets 15 through 21 'convexes outwardly. Typically all brackets 15 through 21 are coaxial.

A plurality or set of columns or rods 31 extend between, and are secured to, the outer brackets 15 and 19. A second plurality or set of columns or rods 33 extend between, and are secured to, the inner brackets 17 and 21. Typically the columns 31 are uniformly spaced around the brackets 15 and 19 and the columns 33 are corresponding uniformly spaced around the brackets 17 and 21. The sets of columns 31 and 33 encompass between them an annular volume or space within which the treads 35 of the stairway extend.

Each column 31 or 33 is typically a hollow tube from whose one end the threaded stem 43 (FIG. 3) of a bolt extends. The head 45 of the bolt is internally brazed (or welded) to the column 31 or 33 near this one end. The other end of the column 31 or 33 has an internal thread 47. The lower brackets 15 and 17 have threaded holes to receive the bolts 43-45 and the columns 31 and 33 are held in the brackets 15 and 17 by engaging the threaded end 43 in the threaded holes, typically by turning the columns until the ends 43 are tightly engaged in the holes. The columns 31 and 33 are secured to the brackets 19 and 21 respectively by bolts 49 which are screwed thru countersunk holes into the threaded ends 47. For appearance upholstered tacks 51 may be inserted in holes in the bolts 41.

The treads 35 are of generally trapezoidal form and each tread is supported by a pair of columns 31 at one end and a pair of columns 33 at the other end. The double-column support lends stability to the stairway. The

treads 35 beginning with the lowest tread and ending with the highest tread are supported by columns which extend progressively around the brackets. There need not be twice as many pairs of columns 31 and 33 as there are treads because each tread 35 except the lowest and highest is supported by a column which supports the preceding tread and by a column which supports the succeeding tread. Thus identifying the columns 31 and 33 respectively from the left-hand end with respect to FIG. 1 as first, second, third, on the columns, the first tread 35 is supported by the first and second columns 31 and 33, the second by the second and third, and so on to the last tread supported by the n-lst and the nth columns.

Each tread 35 is supported between a pair of columns 31 by a plate 51 and between a pair of columns 33 by a plate 53. The treads 35 and the plates 51 and 53 have holes 52 and 54 respectively so that they may he slipped over the columns 31 and 33 and set along the pairs of columnn in positions corresponding to the riser height.

Each plate 51 and 53 is held in engagement with the pair of columns by set screws 55 (FIGS. 6 and 7) each of which is screwed into the end of the plate 51 or 53 and passes thru, a hole in the part of the column abutting the plate 51 or 53 and is tightened against the opposite inner face 57 of the columns. The tread 35 is secured to the plates 51 and 53 by screws or bolts.

The stairway 11 includes a railing which is a rod 61 bent into a helix and secured internally to the columns 31 or 33. The rod 61 is held at each column 31 or 33 in the sleeve 63 of a bracket 65 which has an arm 67 secured to the end of the arm 68 of another bracket 69. Bracket 69 has a sleeve 71 that is slipped over a column 31 or 33 and secured to this column by a set screw 73 at the appropriate position.

Where desirable, the stairway 11 includes a guard railing or baluster 81. Each of these railings 81 includes bars 83 supported between plates 85 and 87. Plate 85 has holes near its ends thru which it may be slipped over a pair of adjacent columns 31 or 33 depending on whether the guard railing is to be along the inner or outer bars or along both. The rods 81 are secured to the plates 85 and 87 and then the plate 85 is slipped over the adjacent columns to a position at which plate 87 engages the tread 35 supported between the columns. Plate 87 is then secured to the tread 35 by screws and plate 85 is secured to the columns 31 by set screws 89 which enter thru the end of plate 85.

The stairway 11 is readily assembled at the site where it is to be installed. The brackets and 17 are first secured to the base 13. The rods 31 and 33 are then screwed into the brackets 15 and 17 and secured. The brackets 19 and 21 are at this point not connected to the columns 31 and 33 so that their tops are unobstructed. The lowest set of plates 51 and 53 and tread 35 is then slipped over the pairs of columns 31 and 33 on the extreme left with reference to FIG. 2 and secured in the appropriate position. The next-to-the lowest set of bars 51 and 53 and tread 35 is then slipped over the second and third columns 31 and 33 from the left and secured at the appropriate riser height. The lowest guard railing or baluster 81 is then assembled and slipped over the pairs of columns 31 and 33 on the extreme left and secured to the columns and treads. The lowest bracket 69 for the hand rail 61 is then slipped over the column 31 on the extreme left (with reference to FIG. 2) and secured at the appropriate height. The succeeding sets of plates 51, 53, treads 35, guard rails 81 and brackets are then each in its turn slipped over and secured to successive pairs of rods 31 and 33.

When the treads 35, guard trailing 81 and brackets 69 are all secured to the columns 31 and 33, the brackets 19 and 21 are secured to the railing support and tops of columns 31 and 33 are secured to the brackets. The brackets 65 are then partly secured (limited pivoting permitted) to the arms 68 and the rod 61 is passed thru the 4 sleeves 63 and flexed to form the handrail. The brackets are then firmly secured to the arms 68.

In the apparatus described above, the treads 35 have holes and are slipped over the poles 31 and 33. The treads may also be secured to the plates 51 and 53 without being slipped over the poles. In this case, shorter treadsa re used and the plates 51 and 53 should be sturdy enough to support the treads.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed herein, many modifications thereof are feasible. This invention then is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the spirit of the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stairway extending between lower-level supporting means and upper-level supporting means, including a first bracket supported by said lower-level supporting means, a second bracket supported by said lower-level supporting means, a third bracket supported by said upper-level supporting means, a fourth bracket supported by said upper-level supporting means, a first set of columns supported by said first and third brackets, the said columns being spaced along said first and third brackets, a second set of columns supported by said second and fourth brackets, the columns of second set being spaced along said second and fourth brackets, and treads spaced along said sets of columns between said lower-level supporting means and said upper-level supporting means, said treads being supported between said columns of said first set and the columns of said second set.

2. The stairway of claim 1 wherein each of the treads is supported near one of its ends from at least a pair of columns of the first set of columns and near its opposite end from at least a corresponding pair of columns of the second set of columns.

3. The stairway of claim 1 wherein first, second and third brackets are of arcuate form and the first and second and third and fourth brackets are supported so that their curvatures extend in the same direction, the first and third brackets being of substantially greater length than the second and fourth brackets respectively, the spacing of the columns of the second set which are supported by said second and fourth brackets being substantially shorter than the spacing between the columns of the first set which are supported by the first and third brackets, and each of the treads being tapered to correspond to the difference in spacing, the treads starting with the first tread at lower level and ending with the last tread at the upper level being supported between columns of the first and second sets of columns which extend progressively around the brackets, whereby said stairway is of generally helical form.

4. The helical stairway of claim 3 wherein the first, second, third and fourth brackets are in the form of generally circular arcs, the first and third brackets being aligned vertically and the second and fourth brackets being aligned vertically, and the first and third brackets being of substantially larger diameter than the second and fourth brackets, and the first and second and third and fourth brackets respectively defining between them an annular volumn in which the treads extend in a helical array between the lower-level supporting means and the upper-level supporting means.

5. The helical stairway of claim 3 including a handrail formed of a straight rod flexed into a helix and secured along one of the sets of columns.

6. The stairway of claim 2, with the columns of the first set designated herein as first, second, thirdnth from one set of ends of the first and third brackets to the opposite set of ends and the columns of the second set designated herein first, second, third-nth from the corresponding one set of ends of the second and fourth brackets to the opposite set of ends, wherein the treads from the lower level to the upper level are supported progressively, from the pairs of first and second columns, second and third columns, third and fourth columns.-

5 6 n-lst and nth columns of the first and second sets of 1,726,133 8/1929 Wilson 52187 columns respectively. 3,207,259 9/ 1965 Gebhart 52187 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 424,533 4/1890 Belles 52-187 839,846 1/1907 Holden 52-187 182106; 52 1s7 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

